Dirt moving and throwing machine



Feb. 13, 1951 J. s. TANNER 2,541,557

DIRT MOVING AND THROWING MACHINE Filed June 16, 1947 3 SheetsS heet 1 55F5 Jhn 5f Tarmer INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY Feb. 13, 1951 J. s. TANNER 2,541,557

. DIRT MOVING AND THROWING MACHINE Filed June 16, 1947 a Sheets-Sheet 2John 5. Tanner INVENTOR ATTORNEY Feb. 13, 1951 J. 5. TANNER 2,541,557

DIRT MOVING AND THROWING MACHINE Filed June 16, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 /Z54 /2 John 5. Tanner I N V EN TOR.

ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 13, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

This invention relates to earth moving equipment and more particularlyto portable apparatus for excavating and throwing or conveying dirt insuch operations as ditching, terracing, loading and the like.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a machine of thekind set forth, consisting of a wheeled frame carrying on one endsuitable excavating means and capable of being raised and lowered topredetermined depth of penetration of the excavating means, said framefurther supporting an inclined, endless conveyor for moving dirt fromthe excavating means to the rear of the frame for discharge onto atraveling belt type thrower whose direction of travel is transverse tothat of said inclined conveyor and which discharges the material at highspeed at one side or the other of said frame.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dirt throwing apparatuswhich, by virtue of a novel form of reversing mechanism including amaterial directing baffle, is especially useful in constructing thechannel type or one-way terrace, permitting the machine to travel inboth directions along the terrace, yet depositing the dirt on but oneside thereof.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a soil excavatingand throwing machine consisting of a frame, either drawn orself-propelled, equipped with soil excavating and soil conveying meansfor continuously moving the soil displaced by the excavating means to apoint of final disposition, during which the soil is given impetus in alateral direction in one of a variety of angles in a vertical plane,which determines the distance the material is to be thrown.

With the foregoing objects in View, the invention has further referenceto certain features of accomplishment which will become apparent as thedescription proceeds, taken in connection with the accompanying drawingswherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational View of a machine constructed accordingto the invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view thereof.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the reversing mechanismfor the dirt throwing means.

Figure 4 is a front perspective view of the machine.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view of the dirt throwing means in verticalsection, taken on line 55 on Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the raising and lowering clutch, and

Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective View of the dirt throwing means inone position thereof.

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 7 but showing the dirt throwingmeans in a reverse position.

Figure 9 is a sectional view similar to Figure 5 but showing the dirtthrowing means in the reverse position, and

Figure 10 is a detail view of the means for reversing the direction oftravel of the belt of the dirt throwing means.

Continuing with a more detailed description of the drawing, referencenumeral ill denotes a pair of parallel channel iron frame members whichform the bed of the main frame, the latter being supported upon wheelsH, mounted on a crank axle If for raising and lowering the frame.Further reference to this operation and the mannor of accomplishmentwill be made presently.

Mounted on the forward end of the frame are parallel and inclined platesI3 serving as the side rails of an endless conveyor belt M, the latteroperating over rollers 5 at its top and bottom, each being mounted on ashaft it whose ends are journaled in bearings I! set in the side plates!3 at the top and bottom.

The lower ends of the side plates i 3 extend below the forward ends ofthe frame members l8 and to the confronting faces of the plates areaffixed mounting members 98 (Fig. 2) which carry shafts !9 (Fig. 4) onwhich are mounted discs 20. The mounting members [3 are further designedto support a shovel point 2! intermediate the discs 29, as shown. Whilethe drawing shows a double disc and shovel arrangement as the excavatingmeans herein referred to, it is understood that any well known earthturning means may be employed which may be suitable for the purpose,that of excavating and lifting the soil onto the bottom end of theconveyor belt M.

The rear or highest end of the endless conveyor M and its side plates isare supported at the top of the vertical frame of the dirt throwingapparatus, the said frame consisting uprights 2?, at four corners of theframe, the foremost of which are mounted on the rear ends of theparallel main frame members if). The vertical frame is suitablycross-braced by members 23 and its four sides, except for an areaadiacent the bottom thereof, are covered by metal sheathing 24.

Referring now particularly to the dirt throwing mechanism; a pair ofspaced apart mounting plates 25 are suspended for oscillating movementon a common shaft 25, the ends of the latter being iournaled in bearings21 in the cross-members 23 of the vertical frame. Transverse rollers 28,29 and 30 are mounted between the plates 25 on shafts 3|, 32 and 33respectively, whose ends are journaled in the opposed plates 25.Surrounding the rollers 28, 29 and 30 is an endless belt 34 whose upperlead is concaved and the entire belt held under tension by a pair ofidler wheels 35, mounted on the shaft 26 which also serves as therotative axis and suspension means for the oscillating mounting plates25.

The webs of the idlers 35 are solid in order that material depositedonto the belt at by the conveyor i l will find no outlet except ateither end of the dirt thrower, below the lower edges of the sidesheathing 24 of the vertical frame. It is apparent that the belt 34,when traveling at a high rate of speed, will impart to the materialfalling thereon a speed equal to that of the belt almost instantly andthat centrifugal force will have a tendency to cause the material tocling thereto until its discharge from the belt. The material will bethrown a considerable distance in an arcuate course.

To drive the'belt 34, a drive shaft 36 extends alongside the main frameIt, entering-a transmission housing 37 mounted on the frame near itsrear end. Telescopically receiving the drive shaft 35 at its forward endis an extension 33, which connects the shaft with the power takeoff ofthe tractor, pulling the machine by means of the hitches 39 affixed tothe front of the frame. Emerging from the transmission housing 3'! is ashaft 48 which is connected to the end of the shaft 33 of belt roller 30through two universal joints di and a hollow extension 62 (Fig. 1). Thetransmission gearing in housing .31 may be conventional but in any case,it is designed to materially increase the speed of the dirt thrower overthat of the driving shaft 36 as well as to reverse the direction oftravel of the dirt thrower and to provide a driving means for theinclined conveyor M, the latter being accomplished through a shaft E3,extending upwardly towards the rear or upper end of the conveyor it andimparting rotation to its roller l through cooperating bevel gears in ahousing 44, affixed to a conveyor side plate I3.

InFigure 5 is shown a view from the rear of the machine looking towardsthe front thereof and illustrating the position of the dirt thrower whendischarging material on the left side of the machine. In order todischarge material on the opposite side, it is necessary to oscillatethe dirt thrower about its axis 25 bringing the level of roller 38 abovethat of roller 28. At the same time, the direction of travel of the belt34 must be reversed.

To accomplish the foregoing, a rod 45 is mounted above and parallel withthe drive shaft 35 and on its forward end is mounted a crank 46 which isaccessible to the operator of the pulling tractor. The rear end of therod 55 is connected to the end of an extension 52 having a threadedportion 45a (Fig. on which travels an interiorly threaded block M abovethe transmission 3?. A vertically disposed shift lever 48 is pivoted atits upper end to the block 4? while its lower end enters thetransmission 37. Accordingly, when the crank 46 is rotated the threadedextension 52 will be rotated in the block 41, causing the same to moveto shift the position of lever 48 and actuate the transmission, therebyreversing the direction of rotation of shaft 40 which drives the dirtthrower.

The position of the dirt thrower is changed by means of a screw rod 49,(Figure 5), the upper end of which carries a bevel gear 51? which isengaged by a similar gear 5! on the end of the extension 52 (Fig. 1) ofthe rod 45 on the opposite side of the gear housing ll. The lower end ofthe screw rod 49, as borne out in Figure 5 enters an internally threadedboss 53, affixed to the outer face of one of the mounting plates 25 ofthe dirt thrower. A bearing 53a embraces the screw rod 49 adjacent itsupper end and has a slotted extension 531) attached to a frame upright22 to permit rotation of rod 49 radially about shaft 45. It is apparenttherefore that when the rod 45 is rotated by the crank 46, the screw rod49 will be rotated, causing the boss 53 to travel longitudinally thereonand either raising or lowering the end of the mounting plate 25 to whichthe boss is aifixed.

Simultaneous with the above operation, the belt 34 will change itsdirection of travel by virtue of the connection between rod 45 and thetransmission gearing through reversing gears in housing 41 actuated byshaft lever 48, as described.

Inasmuch as it is necessary that the material deposited onto the belt 34strike the same at its highest point for optimum results, a bafile 55 isoscillatably disposed above the belt 33 on a transverse shaft 55 whoseends are journaled bearings mounted in opposite walls of the verticalframe. The innermost of the thrower mounting plates 25 carries anintegral arm 56 which extends upwardly from its midsection and radiallywith respect to its oscillating axis. Secured rigidly to the edge of thebafiie 5d and extending outwardly through an arcuate slot 5'! in a wallof the vertical frame is a rod 58, to the outer end of which is attachedthe upper end of the arm 56. A longitudinal slot 59 (Fig. 3) in the endof the arm 55 provides for relative displacement of the arm 55 and rod58 due to the radii differential between the rotative axes of themounting plates 25 and the baflie 54, such axes being shafts 2G and 55respectively.

It is apparent therefore that as the position of the thrower mounting ischanged, simultaneously with a reversal of the direction of travel ofthe belt 34, as described, the baffle plate 54 is appropriatelypositioned at the same time by the thrust exerted thereon by the arm 56through the connecting rod 58.

The bafile plate 5d is preferably formed of two flush metal sheets, theouter edges thereof being turned in opposite directions to define sideflanges 53 for each face of the baffle in order that material depositedthereon by the inclined conveyor M will be constrained thereby to falltowards the center of the belt 3 3. It is further pointed out that theupper ends of the side flanges 59 are deflected at 50 (Fig. 5) so thatthe upper end of the bafiie proper will rest flush against the sidewalls 24 of the vertical frame in each extreme position to precludepassage of material downward therebetween.

In Figure 5 also is shown a belt tightener 6| of conventionalconstruction whose purpose is to maintain proper tension on the throwerbelt 35 to prevent sagging thereof since the effectiveness of this beltdepends largely on the tautness thereof.

Figure 6 illustrates a form of clutch by which the frame it is raisedand lowered to predetermine the depth of penetration of the excavatingmeans at the forward end thereof. No claim is made as to novelty in thisclutch, the same being of conventional and well known construction and,being of standard design, a description of construction and operation isdeemed unnecessary. Suffice it to say that a trip rope 62 is connectedto the clutch lever 63 and extends forwardly of the frame H] to theoperators position on the pulling tractor. The action releases theclutch for oscillation of the axle 12 in raising or lowering the frameill, the extent of movement in either case being determined bypresetting the hand lever 64.

In the foregoin the various elements were described with greatparticularity as well as their joint function in the combination and itis considered that the operation of the machine as a whole has been madeclear without the necessity of further explanation.

Manifestly, the construction as shown and described is capable of somemodification and such modification as may be construed to fall withinthe scope and meaning of the appended claims is also considered to bewithin the spirit and intent of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A soil moving and throwing apparatus including a wheeled frame,spaced apart rollers parallel to each other and with the longitudinalaxis of said frame, oscillatably suspended mounting plates supportingthe ends Of said rollers, a thrower belt surrounding said rollers, idlerwheels having an axis common to that of said mounting plates and bearingon the edges of the upper lead of said belt to define a concave surfacefor receiving soil, a baffle oscillatably mounted above said belt, meansfor driving said thrower belt, and separate means operating insimultaneity for oscillating said mounting plates and baflie and forreversing the direction of travel of said belt.

2. A soil moving and throwing means including a wheeled frame having avertical frame at the rear thereof, a plurality of spaced apart rollersin said vertical frame, a mounting for said rollers suspended foroscillative displacement in an are perpendicular to th longitudinal axisof said wheeled frame, an endless belt surrounding said rollers, idlerwheels engaging the edges of said belt to form a concave soil receivingsurface between said wheels, a baffle oscillatably mounted above saidbelt for directing material deposited onto said belt, means for drivingsaid belt and means for changing th positions of said roller mountingand baflie in simultaneity with the reversal in the direction of travelof said belt.

3. A soil loading machine including a wheeled frame having a verticalframe on one end thereof,

a plurality of spaced apart rollers journaled in a mounting oscillatablysuspended in said vertical frame, idler wheels bearing upon said beltand forming thereof a concave soil receiving surface, means for drivingsaid belt at high speed to discharge the soil therefrom, a baffleadjustably mounted above said belt, means for reversing the direction oftravel of said belt and cooperating means operable from the forward endof said machine for changing the position of said roller mounting andfor reversing the direction of discharge of said belt, and meanseffective upon change in the position of said roller mounting to reversethe position of said baiiie.

4. A soil loading machine including a wheeled frame having a verticalframe at one end thereof, an endless belt operable on rollers in saidvertical frame and in transverse relation to the longitudinal axis ofsaid wheeled frame, a mounting for said rollers suspended in saidvertical frame for arcuate displacement in a plane perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis of said wheeled frame, idler rollers bearing on theedge of said belt to define a concave soil receiving surface, means fordriving said belt at high speed, a baffle oscillatable above said beltfor directing the soil deposited thereon, means for reversin thedirection of travel of said belt and for simultaneously chang-' ing theposition of said roller mounting, and means for shifting the position ofsaid bafiie to correspond with the direction of thrust of said belt.

5. A machine as set forth in claim 4, further defined in that the baffleshifting means consists of an arm carried by the roller mounting andextending upwardly and whose upper end is displaceably connected to thebafiie above the pivotal point thereof and a screw rod for oscillatingsaid roller mounting.

JOHN S. TANNER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,077,777 Wilson Nov. 4, 19131,273,206 Waterhouse July 23, 1918 1,533,847 Freedenburg Apr. 14, 1925FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 20,938 Great Britain Sept. 15, 1913

